Attachment for sheet metal elbow edging machine



Aug. 22, 1961 G. MOCLURE 2,997,092

ATTACHMENT FOR SHEET METAL ELBOW EDGING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmwrax Gee/ye fie (ill/PE Aug. 22, 1961 G. MCCLURE 2,997,092

ATTACHMENT FOR SHEET METAL ELBOW EDGING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A77'0RNEYS United States Patent 2,997,092 ATTACHMENT FOR SHEET MFIIAL ELBOW EDGING MACHINE George McClure, 11275 Pelletier, Montreal-North,

Quebec, Canada Filed June '22, 1960, Ser. No. 37,986 Claims. (Cl. 153-9) This invention pertains to machines for forming flanges onto tubular members, especially sheet metal members. The invention relates, more particularly, to an attachment for guiding the tubular members during cold rolling of the flanges.

Machines for forming flanges on sheet metal tubular members are provided with two shaping wheels protruding out of the body of the machine. The axis of these wheels are parallel and normally lie in a vertical plane. Further, the wheels have mating circumferential edges adapted to create the required flange. The end of the tubular member, which is to be flange rolled, is placed between the wheels which are brought closer together and then rolled several times so as to give the member a series of deformation to finally obtain a full flange. The relative size of each deformation depends, of course, on the thickness of the metal.

After the tube has been inserted and a first deformation is made, the wheels are rotated in opposed directions.

Because of the circular shape of the member, the tendency as the wheels rotate, is for the member to move out of engagement therewith. To prevent this, a pressure is manually applied, usually by the thumb on the inner surface of the member to constantly keep its edge in contact with a guide plate located behind, and to one side of the wheels. Thus, the members edge is actually fed between the wheels and, because of the fixed location of the guide plate, the flanges depth is kept constant.

However, this constant manual pressing is tiresome,

particularly when there are several flanges to be formed. Also, the manual operation is slow and lacks accuracy. Usually, a flange making a 90 angle with the body of the tubular member is desired. In machines of the type aforesaid, this angle is obtained by properly regulating the manual pressure applied to the tubular member. As manual pressure fluctuates, particularly when the operator is tired, the flange becomes irregular. Since these flanges serve mostly to connect two adjoining tubes, this results in joints that are poor and possibly leaky. To prevent the aforementioned inconveniences, the invention proposes a guiding member which would, by means of a suitable pressing lever, apply a pressure onto the tube to be formed in such a way as to prevent the forming of an irregular flange.

The invention further contemplates the provision of such a guiding member that would eliminate the tiresome manual operation aforesaid while increasing the speed of flange rolling. i

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a guiding attachment for a flange forming machine wherein the pressure intensity may be adjusted so that, at maximum intensity, the tubular member to be formed bends in relation to the shaping rollers to such an extent as to produce a flange, the outwardly extending radial portion of which, is normal to the axis of the member.

'A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a guiding attachment for a flange rolling machine which is simple in'structure, and, therefore, low in manufacturing cost, and which permits a much more rapid flange forming operation while requiring less manual. effort.

The guiding attachment contemplated comprises a brackef'fixedflin relation to the body of the machine, which has a pivot axis extending parallel to, and forward- 1y spaced from, the faces of the shaping wheels. To this Patented Aug, 22, 1961 pivot axis, is rotatably fixed a guiding member having a guiding wheel adapted to press on the inner surface of the tubular member to be flanged. The axis of said guiding wheel moves, as the guiding member is pivoted, in a plane offset and parallel to the plane of the axis of the shaping wheels. A manual lever actuates the guiding member and wheel around the pivot axis so as to press down on the tubular member. This guiding member may also be provided with a device that would limit its downward stroke and could be adjusted to produce a flange having a radial portion truly perpendicular to the tubular members axis.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by the description that follows, having reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a flange-forming machine equipped with the guiding attachment of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the machine with the attachment.

FIGURE 3 is a view along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 shows a longitudinal cross-sectionalview of two tubular members after they have been cold rolled in the machine of FIGURE 1, the members being in a position to form a joint.

The flange rolling machine of 'FIG. 1 has a main body 1, on one side wall of which protrudes two shaping wheels 3 and 5 rotatable on parallel axis which, normally, would lie in a vertical plane. These shaping wheels rotate in reverse direction; the rotation being accomplished by the L-shaped hand crank 7. Wheel 3 is usually made to rotate counter-clockwise, whereas wheel 5 turns clockwise: the movement of tubular member 9 being from left to right (see FIG. 5).

Body 1 may be fixed to a support by any suitable means such as U-shaped clamp 11 and tightening screw 13 headed by a flat cap 15 adapted to rest under the support,

' whereas foot 17 lies over the support. Narrowing of the gap between 15 and 17 is obtained by rotation of tightening lever 19, pivotable at one end of screw 13.

7 As is well known, shaping Wheels 3 and 5 have mating edges; wheel 3 usually having the male edge 21 whereas wheel 5 has the female edge. The distance between the wheels may be varied, usually wheel 5 remaining stationary while wheel 3 moves up and down. This movement is accomplished by means of the hand-lever 25. I I

In order to obtain a flange having a constant cross! section throughout thecircumference of tubular member 9, an abutment plate 27 (see FIG. 5) horizontally dis: placeable by means of control knob 29 at the back of body 1, is provided between the two wheels 3 and 5. This plate is located on the side of the wheels so as to abut the peripheral edge 31 of tubular member 9 just before it moves between the two wheels.

It will be noted that abutment plate 27 also serves to control the width of the axial portionfia of the flange. The more plate 31 is moved outwardly away from body 1, the shorter is axial portion 3%. Whenever plate 27 reaches the center of the female edge 23 in line with the bottom of the V-shaped slot of female edge 23, the axial portion 33 becomes nil and only a radial portion 35 is produced. It will, therefore, be seen that both types of flanges, shown in FIG. 2, can be produced on the samemachine. I

As will be understood from FIG. 2, the joint between tubular members 9 and 9' may be completed by bend; ing axial portion 3 3 radially inwardly over the radial portion 35' of the tubular member-9'. r

In FIG. 1 the flange is shown in its final stage of completion. There may be several stages or steps neces{ sary to obtain a finished flange depending on the thick ness of the metal sheet. It is usually necessary to repeat the operation at least two or three times. 4

Perusal of FIGS. 1 and 5 will show that, in order to prevent tubular member 9 to slip out of engagement with wheels 3 and 5, it is necessary to keep pressing down on it as well as holding it against abutting plate 27. This will insure constant feeding of material between the shaping wheels and, consequently produce a flange axial portion 33 having a constant width.

The attachment, which is the object of this invention, is shown in FIGS. .3, 4 and 5 as attached to main body 1 of the flange-forming machine. It is composed of a guiding-member holding bracket 34 having a U-shaped rear portion 36 provided with two side legs 37 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and a frontal plate 39 (FIG. 5). Side legs 37 are parallel and may extend obliquely in relation to the plane of frontal plate 39. Both legs run along opposite sides of body 1 and are rigidly fixed thereto by means such as nut-and-bolt arrangement 40 in such a way that the lower edge of frontal plate .3 9 rests behind shaping wheel 3 and slightly above shank 43 of wheel 3. This frontal plate lower edge could, also, conveniently rest on shank 43 provided this position does not interfere with the free rotation of wheel 3.

As better seen in FIG. 5 frontal plate 39 is actually a forward-facing channel-shaped track adapted to receive the front portion 47 of this holding bracket 34. This front portion 47 is a downwardly directed L-shaped member which, for rigidity purposes, may be T-shaped in cross section, as better shown in FIG. 5. A transverse plate 51 connected across one end of this front portion 47 is bolted onto web 41 of frontal plate 39 (FIG. 5), between flanges 45 by nuts-and-bolts arrangement 49. A lateral slot 53 across web 41 permits lateral displacement of front portion 47 in relation to wheels 3 and 5, as shown by the arrows on FIG. 5. The downwardly directed part of front portion 47 is spaced a short distance forwardly of wheel 3 and its lower end 55 preferably rests higher than the tangential meeting zone of wheels 3 and 5.

Also, at the lower end 55- of front portion 47 journals a shaft 57 pivotable on a pivot axis 59. Axis 59 is normal to the plane of the axes of wheels 3 and 5, which itself is preferably vertical.

Attached to holding bracket 34 for pivotal movement relative thereto, is a U-shaped guiding member 61 connected to said bracket by being joined to shaft 57 above mentioned at the lower end of one of its legs 63. Between the legs of guiding member 61, a guiding wheel 67 is rotatably mounted, which is adapted to press tubular member 9 downwardly and against abutment plate 27 (FIG. 5).

It will be observed that the axis of guiding wheel 67 is normal to the pivot axis 59 and is, therefore, parallel to the vertical plane of the axis of wheels 3 and 5 and olfset therefrom. This is clearly seen in FIG. 4.

The distance between the axis of guiding wheel '67 and the plane of the axis of shaping wheels 3 and 5 will be determined by the size of the tubular member to be flanged. The greater the diameter of this member, the greater the distance.

Guiding member 61 is manually actuated by means of a hand-lever rod 69 extending from legs connecting part 65, parallel to the axis of wheel 67.

' In order to control the angle of inclination of the generally radial portion 3 5 of the flange, it is preferable to provide means to limit the downward stroke of guiding member 61.

A preferred way of accomplishing this function is by the provision of a limiting assembly composed of a limit member 73 having a slightly arcuate limit rod 75 terminated atone end with a limit fork 77 pivotally connected to the top of front portion 47 by means of a limit pivot shaft 80 and slidably extending at the other end through a "suitable aperture in a limit plate 71 integral with leg connecting part '65. The downward pull of handle rod 69 is limited by means of a nut 79 adjustably screwed on the end of limit rod 75. A return spring 81 will ensure an upward position of guiding member 61 when not in use.

The operation of the device is obvious from inspection of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

The edge portion of a tubular member is positioned between the two shaping wheels 3 and 5, and hand lever 25 is rotated until the tubular member is held tight between the wheels and a first indentation is made in the sheet material. By rotation of wheels 3 and 5 through hand crank 7, the indentation is carried around the periphery of the edge of the tubular member for a first deformation towards a full flange. As crank 7 is rotated,

hand lever rod is pulled down to allow guide wheel 67 to press on the inner surface of the tubular member. As the guide wheel is offset from the vertical plane of the axis of wheels 3 and 5-, or offset from the bitting point, the result will be to bring peripheral edge to abut against abutment plate 27.

It should be noted that plate 27 can be moved forwardly by means of control knob 29 until its face is in line with the bottom of the V-shaped female edge 23. .In this position of plate 27, only a radial flange 35' is obtained (see FIG. 2).

Although only one type of mating shaping wheels has been shown, it will be understood that this is not a limitative feature and that the invention is equally operable with wheels of other shapes.

I claim:

1. In a flange-forming machine for tubular sheet metal members having a body and two shaping wheels mounted for rotation thereon; the axis of said wheels being parallel and lying in a plane, said wheels being provided with circumferential mating edges spaced from one another a selective distance, said space adapted to receive one end of the tubular member which is to be flanged: an attachment for said machine for guiding said tubular member between said wheels comprising: a bracket fixedly mounted on said body and having a pivot axis spaced from said wheels and normal to said plane, a fork-shaped guiding member pivoted on said pivot axis and normally located within said tubular member forwardly of said bracket and wheels, a guiding wheel rotatably fixed between the legs of said fork-shaped guiding member and adapted to be pressed against the inner surface of said tubular member, the axis of said guiding wheel in the pivotal movement of said guiding member describing a plane parallel to, and offset from said first-mentioned plane, manual means to vary the pressure of said guiding wheel on said inner surface.

2. In a flange-forming machine for tubular sheet metal members having a body and two shaping wheels mounted for rotation thereon; the axis of said wheels being parallel and lying in a plane, said wheels being provided with circumferential mating edges spaced from one another a selective distance, said space adapted to receive one end of the tubular member which is to be flanged: an attachment for said machine for guiding said tubular member between said wheels comprising: a bracket fixedly mounted on said body and having a pivot axis spaced from said wheels and normal to said plane, a fork-shaped guiding member having two spaced legs and a connecting part, one leg of said guiding member being pivoted at one end on said pivot axis, said guiding member being normally located within said tubular member forwardly of said bracket and wheels, a guiding wheel rotatably fixed between the legs of said fork-shaped guiding member and adapted to be pressed against the inner surface of said tubular member, the axis of said guiding wheel in the pivotal movement of said guiding member describing a plane parallel to, and offset from said first-mentioned plane, manual means to vary the pressure of said guiding wheel on said inner surface.

3. In a flange-forming machine for tubular sheet metal members having a body and two shaping wheels mounted for rotation thereon; the axis of said wheels being parallel and lying in a plane, said wheels being provided with circumferential mating edges spaced from one another a selective distance, said space adapted to receive one end of the tubular member which is to be flanged: an attachment for said machine for guiding said tubular member between said wheels comprising: a bracket fixedly mounted on said body and having a pivot axis spaced from said wheels and normal to said plane, a fork-shaped guiding member having two spaced legs and a connecting part, one leg of said guiding member being pivoted at one end on said pivot axis, said guiding member being normally located within said tubular member forwardly of said bracket and wheels, a guiding wheel rotatably fixed between the legs of said fork-shaped guiding member and adapted to be pressed against the inner surface of said tubular member, the axis of said guiding wheel in the pivotal movement of said guiding member describing a plane parallel to, and offset from said first-mentioned plane, a hand lever fixed to said connecting part and substantially parallel to the axis of the guiding wheel, to vary the pressure of the guiding wheel on the inner surface.

4. In a flange-forming machine for tubular sheet metal members having a body and two shaping wheels mounted for rotation thereon; the axis of said wheels being parallel and lying in a plane, said wheels being provided with circumferential mating edges spaced from one another a selective distance, said space adapted to receive one end of the tubular member which is to be flanged: an attachment for said machine for guiding said tubular member between said wheels comprising: a bracket fixedly mounted on said body and having a pivot axis spaced from said wheels and normal to said plane, a fork-shaped guiding member having two spaced legs and a connecting part, one leg of said guiding member being pivoted at one end on said pivot axis, and guiding member being normally located within said tubular member forwardly of said bracket and wheels, a guiding wheel rotatably fixed between the legs of said fork-shaped guiding member and adapted to be pressed against the inner surface of said tubular member, the axis of said guiding wheel in the pivotal movement of said guiding member describing a plane parallel to, and offset from said first-mentioned plane, a hand lever fixed to said connecting part and substantially parallel to the axis of the guiding wheel, to vary the pressure of the guiding wheel on the inner surface and a limiting assembly to limit the downward stroke of said lever and guiding member.

5. In a flange-forming machine for tubular sheet metal members having a body and two shaping wheels mounted for rotation thereon; the axis of said wheels being parallel and lying in a plane, said wheels being provided with circumferential mating edges spaced from one another a selective distance, space adapted to receive one end of the tubular member which is to be flanged: an attachment for said machine for guiding said tubular member between said wheels comprising: a bracket fixedly mounted on said body and having a pivot axis spaced from said wheels and normal to said plane, a fork-shaped guiding member having two spaced legs and a connecting part, one leg of said guiding member being pivoted at one end of said pivot axis, said guiding member being normally located within said tubular member forwardly of said bracket and wheels, a guiding wheel rotatably fixed between the legs of said fork-shaped guiding member and adapted to be pressed against the inner surface of said tubular member, the axis of said guiding wheel in the pivotal movement of said guiding member describing a plane parallel to, and ofiset from said first-mentioned plane, a hand lever fixed to said connecting part and substantially parallel to the axis of the guiding Wheel, to vary the pressure of the guiding wheel on the inner surface, and an arcuate rod pivotally mounted on said bracket and slidably extending through a limit plate fixed to said guiding member, said arcuate rod being provided at the end opposite the pivoting end with an adjustable nut.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 142,929 Morrison Sept. 16, 1873 247,347 Hildebrandt Sept. 20, 1881 1,377,845 McDonald May 10, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS 750,393 Germany Jan. 23, 1945 

